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it up afterwards？〃
〃I don't remember about that；〃 replied Edward； indifferently； 〃but
Bobby got packed off to school a whole year earlier than his people meant
to send him；which was just what he wanted。 So you see it all came
right in the end！〃
I was trying to puzzle out the moral of this storyit was evidently
meant to contain one somewherewhen a flood of golden lamplight
mingled with the moon rays on the lawn； and Aunt Maria and the new
curate strolled out on the grass below us； and took the direction of a
garden seat that was backed by a dense laurel shrubbery reaching round in
a half…circle to the house。 Edward mediated moodily。 〃If we only knew
what they were talking about；〃 said he； 〃you'd soon see whether I was
right or not。 Look here！ Let's send the kid down by the porch to
reconnoitre！〃
〃Harold's asleep；〃 I said； 〃it seems rather a shame〃
〃Oh； rot！〃 said my brother； 〃he's the youngest； and he's got to do as
he's told！〃
So the luckless Harold was hauled out of bed and given his sailing…
orders。 He was naturally rather vexed at being stood up suddenly on the
cold floor； and the job had no particular interest for him； but he was both
staunch and well disciplined。 The means of exit were simple enough。
A porch of iron trellis came up to within easy reach of the window； and
was habitually used by all three of us； when modestly anxious to avoid
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The Golden Age
public notice。 Harold climbed deftly down the porch like a white rat； and
his night gown glimmered a moment on the gravel walk ere he was lost to
sight in the darkness of the shrubbery。 A brief interval of silence ensued；
broken suddenly by a sound of scuffle； and then a shrill； long…drawn
squeal； as of metallic surfaces in friction。 Our scout had fallen into the
hands of the enemy！
Indolence alone had made us devolve the task of investigation on our
younger brother。 Now that danger had declared itself； there was no
hesitation。 In a second we were down the side of the porch； and crawling
Cherokee…wise through the laurels to the back of the garden…seat。 Piteous
was the sight that greeted us。 Aunt Maria was on the seat； in a white
evening frock； lookingfor an auntreally quite nice。 On the lawn stood
an incensed curate； grasping our small brother by a large ear； which
judging from the row he was makingseemed on the point of parting
company with the head it adorned。 The gruesome noise he was emitting
did not really affect us otherwise than aesthetically。 To one who has tried
both； the wail of genuine physical anguish is easy distinguishable from the
pumped…up ad misericordiam blubber。 Harold's could clearly be
recognised as belonging to the latter class。 〃Now； you young〃 （whelp；
_I_ think it was； but Edward stoutly maintains it was devil）； said the curate；
sternly； 〃tell us what you mean by it！〃
〃Well； leggo of my ear then！〃 shrilled Harold； 〃and I'll tell you the
solemn truth！〃
〃Very well；〃 agreed the curate； releasing him； 〃now go ahead； and
don't lie more than you can help。〃
We abode the promised disclosure without the least misgiving； but
even we had hardly given Harold due credit for his fertility of resource
and powers of imagination。
〃I had just finished saying my prayers；〃 began that young gentleman；
slowly； 〃when I happened to look out of the window； and on the lawn I
saw a sight which froze the marrow in my veins！
A burglar was approaching the house with snake…like tread！ He had a
scowl and a dark lantern； and he was armed to the teeth！〃
We listened with interest。 The style； though unlike Harold's native
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The Golden Age
notes； seemed strangely familiar。
〃Go on；〃 said the curate； grimly。
〃Pausing in his stealthy career；〃 continued Harold； 〃he gave a low
whistle。 Instantly the signal was responded to； and from the adjacent
shadows two more figures glided forth。 The miscreants were both armed
to the teeth。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said the curate； 〃proceed。〃
〃The robber chief；〃 pursued Harold； warming to his work； 〃joined his
nefarious comrades； and conversed with them in silent tones。 His
expression was truly ferocious； and I ought to have said that he was armed
to the t〃
〃There； never mind his teeth；〃 interrupted the curate； rudely； 〃there's
too much jaw about you altogether。 Hurry up and have done。〃
〃I was in a frightful funk；〃 continued the narrator； warily guarding his
ear with his hand； 〃but just then the drawing…room window opened； and
you and Aunt Maria came outI mean emerged。 The burglars vanished
silently into the laurels； with horrid implications！〃
The curate looked slightly puzzled。 The tale was well sustained； and
certainly circumstantial。 After all； the boy might have really seen
something。 How was the poor man to knowthough the chaste and lofty
diction might have supplied a hintthat the whole yarn was a free
adaptation from the last Penny Dreadful lent us by the knife…and…boot
boy？
〃Why did you not alarm the house？〃 he asked。
〃'Cos I was afraid；〃 said Harold； sweetly； 〃that p'raps they mightn't
believe me！〃
〃But how did you get down here； you naughty little boy？〃 put in Aunt
Maria。
Harold was hard pressedby his own flesh and blood； too！
At that moment Edward touched me on the shoulder and glided off
through the laurels。 When some ten yards away he gave a low whistle。
I replied by another。 The effect was magical。 Aunt Maria started up
with a shriek。 Harold gave one startled glance around； and then fled like
a hare； made straight for the back door； burst in upon the servants at
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